glad·i·o·lus (gl d  -  l s)n. pl. glad·i·o·li (-l  , -l) or glad·i·o·lus·es 1. also glad·i·o·la (-l ) Botany Any of numerous plants of the genus Gladiolus, native chiefly to tropical and southern Africa and having sword-shaped leaves and showy, variously colored, irregular flowers arranged in one-sided spikes. Also called sword lily.2. Anatomy The large middle section of the sternum. [Middle English gladiol, from Latin gladiolus, wild iris, diminutive of gladius, sword; see gladiator.] |
gladiolus [ˌglædɪˈəʊləs]
n pl -lus, -li [-laɪ], -luses
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) Also called sword lily gladiola any iridaceous plant of the widely cultivated genus Gladiolus, having sword-shaped leaves and spikes of funnel-shaped brightly coloured flowers
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) Anatomy the large central part of the breastbone
[from Latin: a small sword, sword lily, from gladius a sword]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  gladiolus - any of numerous plants of the genus Gladiolus native chiefly to tropical and South Africa having sword-shaped leaves and one-sided spikes of brightly colored funnel-shaped flowers; widely cultivatediridaceous plant - any bulbous plant of the family Iridaceae genus Gladiolus - gladiolas |
| 2. | gladiolus - the large central part of the breastbone breastbone, sternum - the flat bone that articulates with the clavicles and the first seven pairs of ribs |
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